The Big Elf Debate

So we're driving home the other day after picking up Isla's best friend at her grandmother's house. At some point, the girls start talking about their elves and some of the goofy things that they do at night while they're sleeping. After a few minutes, Iinterrupt to tell Ava about Jinxy and how she is able to give the other two TOY elves magical powers when she visits. "So when Jinxy's in town," I advise, "those other two elves are off limits!"

Ava: "Yeah, but it's okay if you touch them 'cause they're not real!"

Me: "This is true, but when Jinxy gives them magical powers, they BECOME real temporarily while she is visiting. If we TOUCH them, they'll lose all their powers."

Ava: "But I have a toy elf that sleeps with me, so I can touch it whenever I want."

Me: "Yes. Isla can touch her toy elves, too, but not when Jinxy gives them powers. They like to get into all kinds of trouble together, and Jinxy would be really upset if we spoiled their fun by touching one of them."

There is a long pause, followed by a couple of frustrated sighs. "Well," Ava begins, "That's not true because if you touch them, they just get sick!"

Isla: "No they don't, they lose their power, right mommy?"

Me: "Well, that's what Jinxy told us?!"

Ava: "Yeah, but in the movie he gets really sick when that man touches him."

Isla: "But you DO know that movies aren't real, right? They are just pretending."

Ava: "I know, but one time Gloria touched my elf. He was stuck in our Christmas tree and she touched him and then he fell over like this... *makes thud sound* Then he got really sick and didn't move until the next night!"

Isla: "I don't think they get sick. I think they just lose their power. That's probably why he fell over, because she took his power away when she touched him."

Me: "You know what I think?"

Ava & Isla: *Looking confused* "What?"

Me: "I think you're BOTH right! I think elves are like people and each of them are different, so maybe some get sick and some don't! So you're BOTH right!"

Ava: "Oh yeah... I think that makes sense!"

Isla: *Nods* "Yeah, I bet you're right, mommy!" *Pause* "Hey Ava, do you think they have bones like us or do you think they are soft like JELL-O?"

Ava:"I know for a fact that they don't have bones because one time Iaccidentlytouched my elf. I don't even know how I did it, but somehow my pinky slipped and hit his leg and he didn't have any bones at all!"

Isla: "Did he get sick?"

Ava: "No. And he didn't lose his powers either. It was really weird."

Me: "Maybe he cut you a break because it was an accident?"

Ava: "Yeah... I bet that's what happened."

The rest of the ride home was spent in silence, each contemplating possible scenarios for their individual elves. But there was one thing that they both knew for sure... Whatever happens at home does not STAY at home, 'cause those little shits tell SantaEVERYTHING!